Present Day
"Mama? Mama it's time to go visit Dr. Kirkland" Gabriela turned the light on in he mothers room to find her curled up in a cocoon in the sheets and pillows, like a child not wanting to go to school.
"Dr. Eyebrows will be there when I need him to be there! Now let me sleep."
Gabriela sighed," Come on mama, you know his name is Dr. Kirkland and he makes sure your appointments are late in the day so you can sleep in as late as possible. Now get. Up!" She had been able to find her mother (in the clothes she wore out last night she might add) and placed her in the shower so she wouldn't smell like smoke and other unknowns.
How had this happened? Wasn't she going to go and find her dad so she could get away from this crazy woman who is her 'mother'? Didn't she have the money saved to buy a house in Italy? How had that money become the payments for her mother to have daily hospital visits? When in the world did her mother become an 'unknown sickness' that 'wanted to have more treatment'? And worst of all. . .
"I have breakfast ready fro you in the car, come on mama you know how to wash your hair."
How had this become the normal?
After the fight to clean up and put on fresh clothes on, Gabriela dragged her mother to the passenger side and carefully made sure all of the buckles were locked so she wouldn't try to jump out like last time.
"Toast? Again? You can't cook for anything can you?" Elizabeth jabbed at her daughter as she started to start the car.
"Toast is the only thing that Dr. Kirkland said was safe for you to eat before any experiments."
"Yeah yeah. . ."
"So Gabriela, how have you been doing?"
Gabriela woke to find Dr. Kirkland crouching down to become eye-to-eye with her as she sat in one of the many uncomfortable hospital chairs that lined the walls. His smile was sweet, like always, but there seemed to be a unknown look in his eyes. Was it joy? Fear?
"I've been good! How about yourself?"
"Good, Alfred is coming by after work today."
"Oooooh! So THAT'S why you look so giddy."
"What? Oh no," Arthur blushed and tried to act embarrassed but his ever growing smile said different. Being happy suited him, the past two years have been the happiest she had ever seen him, even since Alfred fell into his life. Before you could say he was 'happy' but it was never so happy that he laughed and smiled in a place where people died regularly.
"So, how's mama?"
"That's why I'm here. I have some news for you." So that's what was in his eyes, not happiness to see Alfred. But progress, for the longest time all the experiments came up fruitless, no help in finding out what the illness was or is it was curable.
"News? Is it good? Did you find a cure? Oh my gosh! I can't believe it! You found a cu-"
"Gabriela, don't jump to conclusions, let me finish then you can decide if this is a blessing or a curse."
Gabriela nodded, she tried to stay calm but just the thought of maybe getting out of here made her sit up straighter, made her eyes brighter, and she seemed to just be happier.
"We... found the cause of your mothers illness."
"Aaand?"
"Well...," Arthur sighed, he hated hurting this sweet face. He pulled out a bottle of pills and shook out two.
"Elizabeth has been taking an experimental medication to help with headaches...doctors told her to only take two... she would take seven a day."
It was unintentional, but her hands were shaking, her breath was mush more shallow, and tears were poring down her face. but she dared not interrupt, she didn't want to miss anything. Arthur put his hand on her shoulder as a comfort but it only made her the tears just fall harder almost blinding her. She brushed them away and stared at the doctor.
" I'm fine, why would she do that?"
"She won't tell us, we hope you could maybe talk to her. She seems more comfortable with you than the rest of us," he took the chair next to Gabriella and put her hands into his, "It's up to you."
Why? Why would she willingly try and kill herself? Her mother wasn't depressed, she even thought she was getting better. Her mother could actually hold a conversation, she smiled sometimes and told her she truly loved her. It had been weeks since the last time she tried to hurt her. Yesterday they even went shopping. So why?
"Yes, I want to know why as much as you guys."
"Alright follow me."
"Gabby! Hi sweetie!" She had seen her mother hooked up to the machines before and it wasn't even close to the number of tubes and monitors as the first attack, but even now it made her cringe her mom with a needle in her arm. she plastered on a smile and sat next to her mother.
"They put me on this new treatment today, I swear it feels like I'm on cloud nine!"
"That's...good. Hey mom, do you remember taking some experimental medicine? It helped headaches." Gabriella took out the little orange bottle and showed it to Elizabeth.
"Oh yeah! I forgot to take mine this morning, thank you love." She tried to grab the bottle, but only to have Gabriella pull it an inch from her grasp.
"How many would you take a day?"
"Sweetie, it really depends on how I'm feeling sometimes two sometimes-"
"Tell. Me." Her patience was wearing thin just looking at her try and make up a story.
"four, at most." Dam tears, she lied strait to her face! And she didn't even seem to think twice about it.
"Why?" She tried to put some force behind her words but they only came out as a squeak.
"Hmm?"
"Why did you do it?" Her voice had returned and it came out in a scream. She didn't even think she could be so loud. The nurses quickly excused themselves so it was a showdown between her and her biggest hurdle in life.
"...I herd you wanted to leave." Elizabeth knew she was caught, but if she played sad she might be forgiven. Her daughter was always quick to forgive. One of her many defects.
"You wanted to leave me and go to Italy, I love you Gabby, I want to be with you for as long as I live, Gabriela, your my baby." Horror swept over Gabriela's face, there's no way she would go so far as to try and kill herself to keep her here. She thought back to her graduation, he mother was oddly kind that day and much more clingy than ever. It all fit together now in the puzzle of her mother. And she hated what it appeared to be, she had been fooled she should of just ran when she had the chance.
"Gabby..." She tried to put her hand on her daughters as a sign of apology, Gabriela snatched it back.
"Don't touch me!" She couldn't look at her anymore. The halls were like a maze, trapped and confused she feel into a heap on the floor and cried. All she could do was cry.
She didn't know how long she was there but when she woke up she laid on Dr. Kirkland's couch he had in his office. She remembered sitting in here when she first met him. A sweet summer evening gone sour.
"Look who's up." A familiar voice rang in her ears.
"Oh wow! Artie, is she ok?"
"Yes yes, she's fine." She sat up to find Arthur sitting in his favorite swivel chair. But next to him was the strangest man she ever met. Even sitting he towered over Arthur and her. his glasses were crooked ever so slightly, but his eyes were the selling point. The most vibrant blue she had ever seen, as if someone took a dab of paint and dropped into is eyes.
"Good evening Gabriela, let me introduce someone to you, this is Alfred."
"Hiya! How ya feeling?"
"Al, lets not make her talk yet, she has just gone through some traumatic things. I over herd your mother and you. Italy? Your father is there," He chuckled, "I remember him, just as hard headed as you, but also very kind. I can understand your reasons for wanting to leave. And your plan was truly foolproof, except for one factor. Your mother. " He stood and went to sit next to Gabriela who had finally woken up completely. He pulled out a small envelope and gave it to her.
"Your mother is fiery and scary at best, but I do sympathies for her. who wouldn't want you to stay? But what she did was wrong. go on open it." Gabriela obediently tore the envelope open, inside was a plain white check for one thousand two hundred and seven dollars. the exact amount she needed to go on her trip. But how? She used all of this money for the treatments! Until she saw who it was from.
"Dr. Kirkland...how did you- why?"
"How? Well Alfred and I had a couple dollars saved for a trip to America, but we decided you were more important than some burgers. And why? Gabriela, do you even have to ask?" His murky green eyes dampened as he smiled at her.
"Because I want you to find him, I want you to be happy. Like I am with Alfred." She swung her arms around his neck and hugged him the best she could. It wasn't much, but she felt like all she could do was hug him and cry in pure joy.
"So Gabby! I herd your gunna ride your bike all the way to Italy. Way cool! But when me and Artie drove by your house we didn't see a bike, so we took maters into our own hands!" Alfred was always a giver so he pulled Gabriela and took her out the back door in Arthur's office. And waiting in the parking lot was pure beauty. A true beach cruiser, all green with red pin striping, her two favorite colors, and a little white basket with a backpack already packed.
"You know you don't have a lot in your room. We fit everything in that little bag! And then a little bit more." This time it was Alfred's turn to get hugged.
"How did you even do this!"
"Well the bike had been mine at first but I was out growing it and Artie told me you like Red and green so a little bit of paint later and bing bang boom!" He smiled and gave her a big grizzly hug.
"Hey now, don't crush her you big lug."
"Yeah yeah."
"So Gabby, we can drive you to the border of here but the rest of it is all you. I would go with you but THIS one is 'not allowed' in Austria. Any thing we can do for you?" Gabriela looked at the two men; no, her saviors. Could she ask anything else from them? She had been given everything and more. But one thing did come to mind.
"Gabby? My goodness its three in the morning! What are you doing?" Sakura came to the door in her boyfriends t-shirt and some shorts. Even now looking half asleep she could been swarmed by paparazzi and she would look amazing. She was lucky getting her mothers looks.
"Sakura... I'm going." Nothing else was needed to be said, Sakura understood what she meant. The day had come she had to give up her best friend to the world.
"Wait here." Sakura disappeared behind the door quickly and just as quickly reappeared. She held a small box decorated with paper and a small red bow.
"I guess its a going away present now. go on open it." Gabriela chuckled.
"You sound just like Dr. Kirkland." She chuckled. Gabriela quickly tore the paper so find a box full of miss-mashes things, a bracelet, recites, and a picture of her and Sakura at the river holding up a huge fish, they were only seven at the time and they were dirty and smelly...and giddy. but on the bottom of it was a tiny jewelry box. Inside was a delicate locket. She carefully opened it with her nails to revile a tiny picture of a Japanese flag and an Italian flag painted inside.
"I know its not a lot but I want you to have a little piece of me with you. And I don't want you to forget your goal," Sakura took Gabriela's hand and looked her strait in the eyes, "Find him." Gabriela couldn't even cry she was so touched. With a big hug and a final good bye, Gabriela got in the car and rode to the border of Hungary
She must of dosed off because when she awoke she was parked on the side of the rode. to the right was endless trees and bushes and all this green. And the left, a blanket of pure blue. An endless sky seeming to go on forever. The sun was just barely rising from the bottom of the sea making the sky pastel and quiet.
"Morning! Come on sleepy get uup!" Alfred opened the back door to drop Gabriela flat on her but. So much for quiet. as she scrambled she saw Dr. Kirkland trying to decode a ma. The bags under his eyes were much more noticeable than normal and he seemed a little more. . .
"Bloody hell Alfred! Did you go and wake her up?"
Moody.
She quickly scooted next to him to see if they were still in Hungary of in a different country, but to her suprise she found something else.
"Eracian...a Mar...ummm."
"Eraciea Mare, its a little camping town. Apparently that guineus over there decided when I fell asleep to just go around Austria and go through CROATIA!"
"Oh come on... at least we haven't been stopped for me driving on the 'wrong side of the rode' yet."
"This is NO TIME for jokes you twat!"
She knew they were fighting, but she couldn't help herself from giggling.
"You two are so silly!" The two looked at her as she broke out into a louder laugh, witch caught on to Alfred, then poor Arthur couldn't help himself but chuckle.
"Alright alright, looks like this little place is on the gulf of Venice... as in ...Italy, well them Mr. Jones guess your not such a bad driver after all."
"Italy? I love you two!" She gave the two big hugs and giggled in glee.
"We could just drive you all the way th-"
"No. Way. You two have done so much for me already, I got to do this myself, how can I ever repay you guys." Alfred snuck his hand around Arthur's shoulders and gave her a toothy smile.
"Just be happy kid. That's all we need"
After the boys left it was only 4;07 a.m and the sun was finally making a few shadows, and to her surprise there was a lovely hill dotted with red, pink, blue, and white little flowers on the coast of the ocean. They all seemed to smile at her and wave their little leaves beckoning her to come and take another nap. She couldn't help herself. This day had been perfect, so a little nap would only be icing on the cake.
"Get. Up."
Or would this blow the cake up all together?
!
Well hello! I would like to thank the lovely people who have favorite this story and me as an author even though I haven't wrote anything since CHRISTMAS! So yes a longer chapter and EXTREAMLY sappy. I didn't even think I could ever get out of Hungary. And side-note, I don't actually hate Hungary (actually I think she's epic) she just fit the role as Italy's mama so well.
And now the reason WHY my writing has been limited.
During Christmas I was very lucky and got a new phone and a Nook as presents. My theory is my old dinosaur got depressed and just decided to die on me. With this lovely story half, way. FINISHED. so I, of coarse REWROTE IT. because I'm a genius (not). Well thank you so much for all your love and care hope to get more out to you soon =3